Emergency Telecommunications Cluster in 2016
Year in Review
In humanitarian emergencies, communications means
information, connection, life.
Communications is the Link to Survival.
CONTENTS
Foreword 4
Snapshot of 2016 5
Operations 7
Fiji: Tropical Cyclone Winston 7
Haiti: Hurricane Matthew 8
Nigeria: Crisis 10
Pacific: Preparedness 11
Central African Republic: Conflict 12
Iraq: Conflict 13
South Sudan: Conflict 15
Syria: Conflict 17
Yemen: Conflict 19
ETC2020 21
ETC2020 Working Groups 21
ETC2020 Projects 24
Connectivity Charters 26
Training 28
Global ETC 31
List of Acronyms 32
FOREWORD
Today’s global challenges continue to grow. We currently have five ongoing emergencies ranked at the highest level of operational complexity and urgency
in Iraq, Nigeria, South Sudan, in the Syria region and Yemen. While the majority of these are conflict emergencies, the frequency of natural disasters is also on
the rise – with Cyclone Winston hitting Fiji in February 2016 and Hurricane Matthew striking Haiti last October. The need to strengthen preparedness and
resilience is becoming more and more critical.
On behalf of the entire humanitarian community, participants at the launch of the UN’s One Humanity: Shared Responsibility report at the World
Humanitarian Summit (WHS) in 2016 called for a commitment to empower affected people as the driving force of humanitarian response. The need for a
unified approach in crises is needed now more than ever before. This ties in directly with the mandate of the Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC): to
ensure that all those responding to humanitarian emergencies - including affected communities - have access to vital communications services.
2016 was the year that showed great progress towards this goal!
Over a year into the ETC2020 strategy, it is clear we are headed in the right direction. With the ETC activated for preparedness activities for the very first time
in the Pacific region in December 2016, our work on improved and decentralized response readiness, as well as increased communications resilience, is now
becoming a standard of operation.
In the spirit of One Humanity, the ETC also launched its first ever Services for Communities (S4C) project – providing Internet connectivity directly to Syrian
refugees in Domiz camp in Iraq in cooperation with UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The project aimed to
connect Syrian refugees to the world, enabling them to contact their families scattered by war, look for job opportunities and also use the Internet as a
learning tool.
We paved the way for innovative cooperation to underpin better humanitarian response through strengthened collaboration - bringing both the Crisis and
Humanitarian Connectivity Charters closer to operationalisation - and new partnerships - Action Contre la Faim becoming the twenty-fourth cluster member.
Our continued strong commitment to the cluster members, investing in new partnerships and together learning from our experiences will help us achieve our
ETC2020 strategy in the coming years, ensuring that those affected by disasters are at the centre of our response.
Enrica Porcari,
Chief Information Officer of WFP & Chair of the ETC
SNAPSHOT OF 2016
Responded to 8 Emergencies throughout the year
The ETC was activated for preparedness for the first time
Internet Connectivity services provided to over 2,500 humanitarians at 78 sites
13 Stand-by Partners deployed valued at US$ 1 million
ETC2020 activities were conducted in 9 countries
ACF became the newest ETC member
Stand-by partnership established with the Government of Luxembourg
8 large-scale training courses conducted for 126 participants from 17 organisations
42% funding requests covered, comparing to 46% average for all clusters1
86% of users satisfied with ETC services2
1 Based on FTS for all clusters for the following operations: C.A.R., Fiji, Haiti, Iraq, Nigeria, South Sudan, Syria and Yemen. 2 Based on responses from 195 users to the surveys conducted in Haiti, South Sudan and Yemen.
ETC IN 2016: YEAR IN REVIEW 6
ETC operations and ETC2020 projects in 2016
ETC IN 2016: YEAR IN REVIEW 7
OPERATIONS
Fiji: Tropical Cyclone Winston February – April 2016
On Saturday February 20 2016, 06:30 GMT category-5 Tropical Cyclone Winston struck
the Pacific island of Fiji bringing winds of over 320km/h and torrential rain. The cyclone
was estimated to be one of the most severe to hit the South Pacific. The Government of
Fiji estimated that almost 350,000 people living in the cyclone’s path were affected.
Thousands of homes were destroyed and entire villages were impacted.
The Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC) was activated on 15 March with the
World Food Programme (WFP) as lead agency, working in close collaboration with Fiji
Ministry of Communications, who declared the state of natural disaster for 60 days.
WFP as co-lead agency of the national Communications Cluster together with the
Government of Fiji, in particular National Disaster Management Office (NDMO),
evaluated the Tropical Cyclone Winston response through a national lessons-learnt
process. The objective of this was to improve the effectiveness of future response
operations with respect to emergency telecommunications.
Under the leadership of
Supported by
6% funded out of requested
$700,000
3 sites assessed (Vanua Balavu,
Koro Island and the north coast of
Viti Levu)
12 laptops donated to the
National Disaster Management
Office
ETC IN 2016: YEAR IN REVIEW 8
Haiti: Hurricane Matthew October – December 2016
On the morning of 5 October, Hurricane Matthew, the Caribbean's worst storm in nearly
a decade hit parts of the Bahamas, Haiti and Cuba. Hurricane Matthew caused significant
damage in the three countries, exacerbating existing vulnerabilities. It affected 1.4million
people in Haiti, and caused 336 deaths in seven departments from southeast to
northwest of the country.
On 10 October 2016, the humanitarian community, in coordination with the Government
of Haiti, launched a three-month Flash Appeal aiming to provide life-saving assistance to
750,000 people. The appeal requests $120 million to implement the activities.
The ETC was not activated in response to Hurricane Matthew. As global lead of the ETC,
WFP convened the Haiti Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Working
Group, collaborating with government, private sector and humanitarian partners on the
ground to ensure a coordinated response.
As part of the ETC commitment to providing services to affected populations (Services to
Communities [S4C]), WFP, as lead of the ETC, together with Internews conducted
communication needs assessments among disaster-affected community. Due to great
needs, WFP and Internews launched the community radio station project in some of the
most remote areas. This project is to be carried out in 2017 – restoring the radio stations
with solar power, towers, studio and radio equipment.
65.5% funded out of requested
$720,000
16 sites provided with Internet
connectivity
1,000 emergency responders
from 220 organisations
used common ICT services
S4C needs assessment &
community radio restoration
project launched
Under the leadership of
Supported by
It’s amazing to see first-hand the difference that communication can make to
communities in crisis, and what a vital role it plays in saving lives. Ericsson
Response is a volunteer initiative that deploys employees and telecom
equipment to support the United Nations (UN) agencies and other
humanitarian organizations in times of disaster. I recently had the opportunity
to participate in a mission to Haiti, where WFP, lead of the ETC, coordinates
the Haiti ICT Working Group, providing access to vital communication services
that enable swift assistance to people affected by Hurricane Matthew.
Within days of the UN’s request for communications support, the first Ericsson
Response volunteers arrived in the disaster zone. They quickly set about
identifying the best location for a satellite dish and Wi-Fi access points, and
finding a power source to enable Internet connectivity. Once they established
the Wi-Fi network for the main UN camps, they extended it to the compounds
of the other Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs). The creativity and
ingenuity of these first responders is amazing: I saw access points attached to
coconut trees, makeshift car battery UPSs, and Ethernet cables patched
through destroyed buildings – whatever it took to get the job done.
I landed in Port-au-Prince on 5 December, two months after the hurricane
struck, where I met Gilles Philippe Gregoire, the Canadian Ericsson Response
volunteer who was deploying with me. The next morning we boarded a UN
helicopter heading to Jérémie. As we flew, a familiar feeling came over me.
Almost three years ago to the day, I had been on an Ericsson Response
mission to the Philippines, sitting on a helicopter headed to a disaster zone
that had been struck by Typhoon Haiyan. The familiar feeling was a mixture of
nerves, adrenalin, an eagerness to help and some small worry that something
might go wrong that I wouldn’t be able to fix.
I spent most of my month-long deployment in Les Cayes. I was happy to find
that the network set up there by the first volunteer team was quite stable. On
top of keeping the network running, I helped out in any other way I could. One
day, I might be helping to set up printers and get new users registered on the
Wi-Fi network, and the next, I’d be heading out to the Save the Children
compound to help restore their satellite connection.
By Michael Hanrahan, Ericsson Response Volunteer
ETC STORY SNIPPETS: My experience with Ericsson Response in Haiti
ETC IN 2016: YEAR IN REVIEW 10
Nigeria: Crisis November 2016 - ongoing
Since the start of the violent conflict in North-Eastern Nigeria in 2009, more
than 1.8 million people have been displaced and a further 200,000 have been
seeking refuge in the neighbouring countries of Cameroon, Chad and Niger. As
of 2016 seven million people were in need of life-saving assistance in the three
worst-affected states: Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.
With telecommunications infrastructure severely damaged by the conflict,
provision and restoration of communications services are required to support
the response community. As global lead of the ETC, WFP was requested to
convene the Emergency Telecommunications Sector (ETS)* in Nigeria to meet
vital communications needs, responding with government, private sector and
humanitarian organisations to ensure a coordinated response.
In 2016 the ETS in Nigeria prioritised the following activities: a) upgrade of the
existing security communications system to UN standards, b) provision of
security communications services in two common operational areas—Maiduguri
and Damaturu as well as c) coordination and information management services.
*In Nigeria, all clusters are being referred to as sectors. The ETC is therefore operating as the ET Sector
(ETS) with all project plans, appeals, services and deployments adhering to established procedures.
96% funded out of requested
$1,250,000
2 sites provided with security
communications services
Under the leadership of
Supported by
ETC IN 2016: YEAR IN REVIEW 11
Pacific: Preparedness November 2016—ongoing
WFP, global lead of the ETC, was actively working on ETC preparedness activities
in the Pacific region since 2015. In September 2015, WFP opened an office in
Suva, Fiji, to support emergency preparedness in three sectors— Food Security,
Logistics, and Emergency Telecommunications— across the Pacific Islands. On
30 November 2016, the ETC for the Pacific was officially activated under the
structure of the Pacific Humanitarian Team (PHT).
In 2016, WFP prioritised the following Pacific Island Countries for national
engagement for ETC preparedness: Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and
Vanuatu. In 2017, WFP will look to expand its engagement into North Pacific
Island countries such as the Marshall Islands (RMI), Federated States of
Micronesia (FSM), Palau, Kiribati, and Tuvalu.
The ETC Pacific Preparedness project in 2016 received funding from the Office
of US Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID / OFDA) as well support from the ETC
standby partner— RedR Australia (personnel).
$500,000 received from
USAID/OFDA for the ETC and
Logistics Cluster*
* covering the period from March 2016 to June 2017
5 countries supported (Fiji, Samoa,
Solomon Islands, Tonga and
Vanuatu)
Under the leadership of
Supported by
TIMELINE
FEB-APR Response to Tropical Cyclone Winston, Fiji.
APR Joint assessment with the NDMO across Viti Levu, Fiji.
JUL First Regional ETC Pacific Workshop, Samoa.
AUG Upgrade of the NDMO radio network, Fiji.
OCT National Disaster Awareness Week, Fiji.
NOV Assessment mission in collaboration with the NDMO, Tonga.
NOV Formal activation of the ETC Pacific.
NOV -
DEC
Mission to assess emergency telecommunication resources and to restore a NDMO radio station in Port Vila, Vanuatu.
ETC IN 2016: YEAR IN REVIEW 12
Central African Republic: Conflict December 2013—ongoing
A protection crisis erupted in the Central African Republic (C.A.R.) at the end of
2013 resulting in severe violence and widespread displacement. The collapse of
state, law and order as well as public services further exacerbated the situation.
Since then, the country has remained extremely volatile. The ETC was re-
activated in C.A.R. in December 2013 in response to the escalating crisis.
In 2016, the ETC in C.A.R. focused on enhancing common ICT services (security
telecommunications and Internet connectivity) in eight common operating
areas: Kaga-Bandoro and Bossangoa, managed by UN Children's Fund (UNICEF);
Zemio, managed by UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR); N'Dele,
managed by the International Organization for Migration (IOM); and Bambari,
Bangui, Bouar and Paoua, managed by WFP. Over 300 humanitarian personnel
have received radio user training, supporting their safety while carrying out their
life-saving work in this complex and insecure environment.
After months of funding challenges, the ETC received financial support from the
Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) at the end of
the year, which allowed the continuation of services.
26% funded out of requested
$1,600,000
8 sites provided with Internet
connectivity and security
communications services
300 humanitarians trained on
radio usage Under the leadership of
Supported by
ETC IN 2016: YEAR IN REVIEW 13
Iraq: Conflict July 2014 – ongoing
The current conflict in Iraq started when the surge in violence between armed
groups and government forces broke out in June 2014. It has resulted in over 3
million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) across Iraq and left more than 11
million in need of humanitarian assistance. The ETC in Iraq was activated in July
2014, working closely with the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) to
provide security communications, Internet connectivity, user support, and
coordination services to the humanitarian community in Iraq.
In 2016 the humanitarian needs increased due to the ongoing Mosul Offensive.
To support humanitarian response related to the Mosul operation the ETC
carried out seven assessment missions to key sites and deployed shared
services in a Mercy Hands office in Qayyarah town.
For the first time in its history, the ETC provided Internet connectivity services
for the affected community in Domiz camp in cooperation with UN Population
Fund (UNFPA) and UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
50% funded out of requested
$,200,000
11 sites provided with security
communications services
3 sites provided with Internet
connectivity
14 radio training sessions held in
Dohuk and Sulimaniyah
S4C first time provision of services
to affected people
Under the leadership of
Supported by
Under the grey skies of Domiz camp, the oldest and largest of Iraq’s refugee
camps home to more than 31,000 Syrians, the mood was celebratory. A band,
Sardam, made up of Syrian guys living in Domiz, played Kurdish songs as
people poured into the tiny UNFPA Youth Centre. Groups of children drifting
to and from school stopped to have their photos taken; two small boys
enthusiastically started helping to offload boxes of juice from a truck. One girl
with freckles across her nose asked us, “What is the party for?”
The party – which it was in the end with traditional dancing, singing and a
cake, complete with ETC logo perfectly iced on – was to celebrate a key
milestone. For the first time in its history, the WFP-led ETC is now providing
Internet connectivity to the affected community. The excitement that had built
up in the days and weeks leading up to the event didn’t prepare anyone for
the energy and volume of people who came to participate. Everyone from
locally-based humanitarian staff, national media, UN Country Directors,
including Sally Haydock, WFP Iraq Country Director, and the Assistant
Governor of Dohuk came to visit this project that had been quietly operating
under the radar since the project kicked off in July.
What Connectivity Means to Syrian Refugees
While the air outside was thick with smoke blowing in from the fields of Mosul,
the camp residents themselves took control of preparations, a real sense of
pride in what they were part of. Two young Syrians, Jumana and Mohammed,
spoke to the crowd about what this connectivity means to them. Accessing the
Internet helps improve their English – through online classes or YouTube
videos – look for job opportunities, interact on social media to tell their stories,
share information about humanitarian assistance distribution schedules, and to
try and forge a sense of community within the camp. The heart of the project
is, of course, that the Internet allows them to keep in touch with family and
friends who have been scattered by war.
First Time ETC Provides Services for Communities
Rami Shakra, ETC Coordinator in Iraq and the force behind the project, said
that getting to this point required building relationships with the community,
with UNFPA – who agreed to host the ETC Internet service – and establishing
credibility: “You need someone on the frontline, going from camp to camp,
meeting the community and creating the connections. And that is not a
technical solution.”
By Suzanne Fenton, Information Management Officer, ETC Iraq
ETC STORY SNIPPETS: ETC provides Internet to the community for the first time in its history
ETC IN 2016: YEAR IN REVIEW 15
South Sudan: Conflict August 2011 - December 2016
Following the country’s independence in 2011, the ETC was activated in South
Sudan with WFP as lead agency, to provide security communications, Internet
connectivity and coordination services to the humanitarian community. Since
then, the humanitarian needs across South Sudan continued to be immense,
with the country suffering from multiple threats—from conflict and inter-
communal violence, to economic decline, disease, and natural disaster.
In 2016 the ETC was providing shared communications services at 23 sites
across the country, working in close collaboration with partners to establish a
reliable, low-cost and long-term solutions to meet the Internet connectivity
needs of humanitarian actors in remote and hard to reach locations. HISP— the
Humanitarian Internet Support Project – was implemented in Aweil, Malakal,
Mingkaman, Bor and Bentiu, operating on a cost-sharing model. Security
telecommunications services were also being cost-shared.
With these solutions and a solid ICT Working Group in place, after six years, ETC
South Sudan demobilised on 31 December, but the ETC team will be working
with humanitarian partners to support transition to alternative solutions, with
full demobilisation and deactivation of the ETC by 31 March 2017.
100% funded out of requested
$663,060
23 sites provided with
telecommunications services
65 organisations using
Humanitarian Internet Support
Project (HISP) at 5 sites Under the leadership of
Supported by
Beach ball satellite terminals and precariously mounted access points have
become iconic of the Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC) over the
years. The maiden deployment of the then named ‘ETC Response Solution’ was
five years ago in South Sudan and since then this combo of equipment has
been deployed to provide high-speed internet connectivity to thousands of
humanitarians responding to emergencies across the globe.
Demobilising from South Sudan
Last month the ETC’s longest running activation – South Sudan – was officially
demobilised despite the country facing severe food insecurity and no
commercial providers being available. The ETC was activated in South Sudan in
September 2011, with World Food Programme (WFP) as lead agency, to
support the world’s newest country battle the hunger, insecurity, displacement,
natural disasters and disease that faced it following its independence.
Since activation, ETC South Sudan has provided shared communications
services at 23 sites; trained over 1200 humanitarians on security
telecommunications; and implemented long-term internet connectivity in five
state capitals - Aweil, Malakal, Bor, Bentiu and Mingkaman - serving 65
humanitarian organizations and more than 720 users.
Having established a local pool of trained personnel, and provisioned a cost-
effective and reliable internet solution for humanitarians in key areas, the ETC
was able to demobilise while ensuring continued support to the current crisis.
New Era
Six years ago when ETC South Sudan was first activated, it was a remarkable
feat to provide internet connectivity to hundreds of humanitarians in the
world’s most remote locations. Now, that’s not enough. In emergencies,
humanitarians aren’t the only ones who need to communicate - what about
national disaster management agencies? Hospitals? Government? People?!
Understanding that alongside food, water, shelter and health that
communications is the fifth basic human need, the ETC2020 vision seeks to
ensure all those responding to emergencies – including disaster affected
people – have access to vital communications. ETC Services for Communities
projects have already been delivered in Iraq providing Syrian refugees with
connectivity, and in Haiti rehabilitating radio stations damaged by Hurricane
Matthew.
By Mariko Hall, Head of Communications, Global ETC & WFP IT Emergency
Preparedness and Response Branch
ETC STORY SNIPPETS: End of an Era in South Sudan
ETC IN 2016: YEAR IN REVIEW 17
Syria: Conflict January 2013 - ongoing
The ETC was activated in Syria on 14 January 2013 to provide shared security
telecommunications and Internet connectivity services to the humanitarian
community responding to the crisis. The ETC is operating under the Whole of
Syria (WoS) approach which comprises activities in Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey,
for an effective humanitarian response inside Syria.
The situation remained tense in 2016, with eastern Aleppo inaccessible for
humanitarian organizations. The ETC continued to provide vital services across
four countries – providing security telecommunications in 13 sites and Internet
connectivity in 3 sites. In 2016, the ETC supported three locations in Jordan, one
in Lebanon, five in Turkey, and four inside of Syria. The ETC also delivered two
sessions of Let’s Comm training in October 2016 to 28 inter-agency participants
in Damascus. 43% funded out of requested
$1,310,060
13 sites provided with security
communications services
3 sites provided with Internet
connectivity
Whole of Syria approach,
covering Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and
Turkey
28 humanitarian responders
trained on radio inside of Syria
Under the leadership of
Supported by
Every year, the ETC carries out an average of 10 training sessions, covering a
range of skills, including IT, telecoms and coordination, and across a wide
range of countries. Because the guys who conduct the training are not only
experts in their respective fields, but do them so frequently, it can often be
difficult for a particular training session to stand out.
Until Syria. In October, Rob Buurveld and Chris Alagna from WFP’s Fast IT and
Telecommunications Emergency and Support Team (FITTEST) travelled to Syria
to facilitate an ETC Let’s Comm training for humanitarians in Damascus. As
usual, Rob was raring to go but for the participants it was a long-awaited, and
much celebrated event. “It was a great training. In general, the people here are
not really exposed to radio as it is very restricted in Syria, so they were very
motivated to get into it,” said Rob.
Some participants, such as Mazen Shwikany, ICT Officer at UNICEF, who has
supported humanitarian operations in Iraq and Syria, has been waiting a mere
14 years for exactly this kind of opportunity. “Yes, I’ve waited a very long time
to attend this training! In emergencies, especially armed conflict, GSM mobile
network and other communications means become unreliable so radio
communications is an important tool for both humanitarian operations and
coordination, and for the security of the humanitarians themselves.”
Other participants may not have waited quite so long, but were just as
enthusiastic about the opportunity. Rita Deeb, telecommunications
coordinator with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) is one. “I really enjoyed
the training as it focused on practical
issues that we face in the field in our job.
As SARC, we have the biggest radio
network in Syria and rely on it heavily in
our humanitarian work. Maybe in the
future, the training could expand to
include more on best practices. It’s
always great to share the experience
with other organisations.”
The impact of training like this is great.
In an emergency as complex as the one
in Syria, the ability to program radios
and install radio equipment means that humanitarians can stay in touch with
each other and coordinate better which, ultimately, can save lives. For Syrians,
it means that they will receive vital humanitarian assistance faster.
Dragan Mocevic, ETC Coordinator in Syria, summed it up well: “Developing
local capacity in Syria will positively impact ongoing ETC operations within the
country. Having trained people from different operational hubs and different
agencies, ETC will be able to quickly deliver new services in the areas which are
sometimes hard to reach from Damascus.”
By Suzanne Fenton, Information Management Officer, WFP IT Emergency
Preparedness and Response Branch
ETC STORY SNIPPETS: Damascus offers unique ETC training opportunity
ETC IN 2016: YEAR IN REVIEW 19
Yemen: Conflict April 2015 - ongoing
Since conflict escalated in March 2015, an estimated 18 million people have
been left in need of some kind of assistance or protection. To support
humanitarian operations on the ground, the ETC has operated in Yemen since
April 2015, providing emergency coordination, basic security
telecommunications and Internet connectivity services.
In 2016, the ETC led the deployment of vital communication services in five
sites—Sana’a, Sa’ada, Hodeidah, Ibb and Aden, and managed the IT operations
in collaboration with the lead agencies on the ground: UNICEF in Ibb and
Sa’ada, OCHA in Aden, ACTED in Ibb, ACF in Sana’a and WHO in Al Hudaydah.
In addition, the ETC is working with UNDSS on the planning, deployment,
upgrade and maintenance of security communications services in Yemen.
Additionally, Ta’izz and Al Mukalla were identified as common operational areas
where the ETC would deployed services, but due to the security situation, these
remained inaccessible to humanitarians.
100% funded out of requested
$1,820,000
5 sites provided with security
communications services and
Internet connectivity
10 capacity building activities,
including training on radio
usage Under the leadership of
Supported by
Since the beginning of the conflict in Yemen in 2015, Aden, the fourth largest
city in the country, has been severely affected. The ongoing war has had an
impact on a large number of facilities in the city, including World Food
Programme’s premises, as well as on infrastructure. Aden is one of the six
locations identified by the WFP-led Emergency Telecommunications Cluster
(ETC) as a priority for the deployment of live-saving communications services
in the country.
Hani Mohammed, ETC’s focal point in Aden, has seen first-hand how all the
Information Technology (IT) infrastructure they worked so hard to build in the
WFP Office was buried under rubble after an airstrike struck the building next
to the field office in mid-2015.
“Vital IT equipment, such as satellite terminals and generators were unusable,”
Hani explains. “Most of the communications devices in the Communications
Centre (COMCEN) such as High Frequency (HF) and Very High Frequency (VHF)
base stations and the telephone system were inoperative.”
This COMCEN was used mainly by the security officer to communicate with
humanitarians carrying out field missions but the war left staff without any
reliable means of communication.
So at the start of May 2016, during a slight improvement in the security
situation in this coastal city, Hani and the ETC team worked around the clock
to restore the ICT infrastructure in the office. This would allow ETC colleagues
to resume their work from the office again as they had been working from
home.
The ETC in Aden then focused on refurbishing the COMCEN equipment itself,
as they understood the importance of security telecommunications when it
comes to staff security and safety. After putting their lives on the line
commuting from home to work as the situation on the streets was still fragile,
the team successfully activated the COMCEN at the WFP Office in Aden in July.
This is good news for the ETC in Yemen, as it will be used as an ETC security
telecommunications back-up in case the inter-agency UNDSS COMCEN stops
being functional.
By Erika Iglesias, Information Management Officer, WFP IT Emergency
Preparedness and Response Branch
ETC STORY SNIPPETS: Roger that! COMCEN in Aden becomes operational
ETC IN 2016: YEAR IN REVIEW 21
ETC2020
Adopted in 2015, the ETC2020 Strategy states that the ETC will continue facilitating connectivity services for humanitarian responders, but it will also expand both the types and
recipients of those services, in particular government and affected populations. ETC2020 focuses on four strategic priorities:
Communications as aid to enable communities to access connectivity when they need it most – in times of crisis.
Improved and decentralized response readiness to ensure local people, processes and equipment solutions are ready to activate rapid communications responses to disasters.
Increased communications resilience to disasters to help affected governments safeguard systems and prepare for responses when disasters strike
Enhanced communications and energy to enable a wider group of traditional and non-traditional humanitarian responders to save and improve lives.
In 2016, ETC concluded and transitioned to local entities some of its ETC2020 activities – for example by phasing out the ETC2020 Tactical Working Groups and pilot projects – while
adopting new activities and integrating others in the standard operations, both now captured in the ETC2020 Roadmap for 2017-18. In 2016 partnerships were put at the centre of
successful implementation of these activities by forming new global collaborations as well as identifying and working with local entities.
ETC2020 Working Groups
Response Readiness Tactical Working Group
The Response Readiness Tactical Working Group was merged with the Resilience
Working Group under the name Preparedness Working Group, which was launched in
2016 to support ETC network efforts in assisting the response community and
governments to be better prepared to respond to, and recover from, emergencies.
ETC2020
Solutions Tactical Working Group
The Solutions Tactical Working Group was launched in May 2016 to support
identification, development, testing and implementation of innovative IT solutions in
support of ETC2020 strategy. The group had limited results due to its dependency on
other working groups. It was agreed that to define solutions, there is a need for clear
requirements of other Working Groups— Communications as Aid, Preparedness and
Training. During the ETC Plenary meeting in October, the membership decided that the
Solutions Working Group will be discontinued in this form but the discussion around
solutions shall be carried over into future work of the ETC.
Led by
Supported by Resilience Tactical Working Group
In 2016 Resilience Tactical Working Group was merged with the Response Readiness
Working Group under the label of Preparedness Working Group. All ETC2020 Working
Groups have since transitioned into a more consultative type role, carrying forward
activities that emerged from discussions. Further commitment from members is
required to move the preparedness activities forward.
ETC IN 2016: YEAR IN REVIEW 22
Communications with Communities Working Group
The Communications with Communities (CwC) Working Group was launched in July
2015 to drive the ETC’s strategic expansion into this area, ensuring that the ETC plays a
substantial role in humanitarian CwC coordination from now until 2020 and beyond.
The Working Group became more of a network— focusing on using partnerships,
advocacy and pilot projects. Like all ETC2020 Working Groups, the working group
structure was revised to serve more as an informal network, with relevant members
meeting on a project-by-project basis.
The group raised awareness ETC2020 strategy and new priorities, expanding the ETC
network to include many new non-traditional ETC partners and participating in key
multi-agency initiatives (common services; training; crisis innovations initiative; CDAC
strategy). A deployment profile and ETC ‘Services for Communities’ training were
developed with content from various organisations, for membership and network
capacity building.
A strategic decision was taken in May 2016 to rename this activity into Services for
Communities (S4C), as the ETC work in this area falls under the umbrellas of Community
Engagement, and Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP).
Training Working Group
The Training Working Group was launched in December 2015 to advise and support the
ETC network in building capacity and expertise that will drive implementation of
ETC2020 strategy.
In 2016 , a two-day workshop was hosted by the German Federal Agency for Technical
Relief (THW) in Germany to identify key training gaps, explore training case studies and
agree on a format for a work plan. The delivery of training cuts across all thematic areas
of the ETC2020 strategy with all other working groups identifying training requirements.
It was agreed that the task of mapping courses and qualifications, keeping the training
directory up-to-date and ensuring that all other agreed work plan outputs will require a
full time person in the Global ETC to keep the momentum. The desired outcome is to
establish a permanent training committee to provide training oversight and to provider
general direction to this new training role.
As with all ETC2020 Tactical Working Groups, activities and outcomes will be carried
over and the group itself was discontinued in this form.
Led by
Supported by
Led by
Supported by
ETC IN 2016: YEAR IN REVIEW 23
Governance Tactical Working Group
The Governance Tactical Working Group was launched in December 2015 to support
open and transparent decision making for projects developed under the ETC2020
Strategy. The group was to ensure that the projects and activities outlined under the
strategy and the implementation plan developed in 2015 are properly monitored,
reviewed and supported. In addition, the Governance Working Group was tasked with
developing a range of short-term to long-term strategies and actions designed to
remove impediments to the execution of the ETC2020 strategy and build capacity for its
execution.
All ETC2020 Working Groups have since transitioned into a more consultative role,
carrying forward activities that emerged from discussions. Though ETC members
expressed the need to maintain a governance or steering committee to support
ETC2020 implementation.
Awareness and Branding Tactical Working Group
Awareness and Branding Tactical Working Group (known as Joint ETC Communication
Team) was launched in July 2015 with the aim of leveraging capacity and expertise
within ETC member organisations, to enhance visibility of the Cluster in support of
ETC2020. The concept of a joint team to support communications for the ETC preceded
development of the ETC2020 strategy and hence also included activities not strictly
ETC2020-focused.
All ETC2020 Working Groups have since transitioned into a more consultative type,
carrying forward activities that emerged from discussions. Participants from the Joint
ETC Communications Team continue to consult and provide input on ETC
communication and advocacy activities when required.
In 2016, thanks to support from this group, a International Girls in ICT Day campaign
was successfully conducted. This initiative created by International Telecommunications
Union (ITU) celebrates inspiring women who dedicate their lives to the increasingly
important field of ICT, aiming to enable a global environment that empowers and
encourages girls and young women to consider careers in this sector.
Led by
Supported by
Led by
Supported by
ETC IN 2016: YEAR IN REVIEW 24
Iraq: Services for Communities
On 1 November, 2016 the ETC launched its first ever Services for Communities
(S4C) project in Domiz camp, home to almost 31,000 Syrian refugees. Internet
access allows refugees to obtain information, maintain contact with the outside
world, continue education online and make informed decisions about their own
lives. Most importantly, it allows them to keep in touch with their families back
home in Syria, connecting Syrian refugees in the northern Iraqi camp with their
families. Refugees can access the ETC’s Internet service in the UNFPA Youth Centre
in Domiz and also in an Internet café that the ETC established in a UNHCR site.
In 2016, 800 users accounts were created, enabling the local community to access
Internet.
Haiti: Improved and Decentralized Response Readiness
Launched at the end of 2015 to support Improved and Decentralized Response
Readiness and Increased Communications Resilience to Disasters the ETC2020 project
in Haiti focused on: i) developing a country ICT profile to be used as a template for all
high-risk priority countries; and ii) identifying any potential gaps where support might
be required in communications resilience.
The project included mapping policies, regulations, actors, contacts, capacities,
networks and initiatives to develop a model that could be replicated in other high risk
countries. Gaps identified from the country profile mapping exercise were to be
addressed, in partnership with the government and other key stakeholders, in support
of building better communications resilience.
A mission to Haiti was conducted in July 2016 to collect information about the
communication landscape, validate information collected for the ICT profile, engage
with local partners and government stakeholders, and gauge partner and stakeholder
commitment to owning or supporting resilience efforts. The mission also helped to
identify gaps or already existing areas that could be further supported by the ETC.
Led by
Supported by
Led by
Supported by
ETC2020 Projects
ETC IN 2016: YEAR IN REVIEW 25
Philippines: Resilience and Response Readiness Project
The project in the Philippines focused on three ETC strategic priorities— Increased
Communications Resilience to Disasters; Improved and Decentralised Response
Readiness; and Enhanced Communications and Energy. The aim was to empower
Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in the Philippines with the ability to recover
connectivity and communication services as quickly as possible to serve affected
populations, government and the humanitarian response community, especially after a
disaster.
The project started with an initial mission to Manila to meet local actors— government,
private sector, humanitarians. The initial assessment suggested creation of a detailed
country profile and lessons learned report which are expected by mid-year 2017.
Nepal: Communication with Communities project
The project in Nepal started in September 2015 with the aim of supporting
government, humanitarian, media and private sector actors in Nepal to be better
prepared for an ICT response to future disasters, with a specific focus on enabling faster
and better communication among communities, and between communities and
relevant aid actors, in times of disaster.
The project team worked with the Government of Nepal on ICT capacity mapping with
a focus on community communication infrastructure. Two missions were conducted in
Nepal to: i) assess the requirements, ii) launch the in-country project.
The lessons learnt from the earthquake response and from the project were launched
during INET Conference in Kathmandu in March 2016.
Led by
Supported by
Led by
Supported by
ETC IN 2016: YEAR IN REVIEW 26
GSMA Regional Workshops
GSMA APAC Working Group and Workshop in Myanmar
The APAC regional working group meeting took place in Yangon, Myanmar in
September 2016. Signatories from across the region including: Axiata, KDDI, KT, MPT,
Ncell, NTT, Ooredoo, SK Telecom, Smart, Globe, and Telenor joined the meeting.
Humanitarian partners from Ericsson, ETC, Myanmar National Red Cross Society and
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) also attended the meeting.
GSMA MENA Working Group and Workshop in Jordan
Organisations that attended the GSMA MENA Working Group meeting included:
Department for International Development (DFID), Ericsson, ETC, Jawwal, Ministry of
Information and Communication Technologies of Jordan, OCHA, Ooredoo Kuwait,
Orange Jordan, Turkcell, Umniah Jordan, UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, Zain Group, and Zain
Jordan.
Satellite training in Dubai
The pilot session of a 5-day technical training course on satellite technologies for
humanitarian ICT responders was held in Dubai, from 29 May to 2 June 2016. This
course was the very first activity emanating from the Crisis Connectivity Charter.
The training course was facilitated by WFP and partners from the satellite industry and
its purpose was to prepare participants to deploy, manage and support satellite
solutions facilitated through the Crisis Connectivity Charter during humanitarian
emergency operations.
12 participants from WFP FITTEST and Ericsson Response were trained on technical
solutions provided by the following Charter signatories: Arabsat, Eutelsat, Inmarsat,
Thuraya and Yahsat with the support of examiners from GVF.
Connectivity Charters
Crisis Connectivity Charter
The Crisis Connectivity Charter is a set of commitments by the satellite community to
enhance connectivity in times of crises, facilitating communications between –to –from
–and across all those responding to humanitarian emergencies, including affected
communities. Established by the EMEA Satellite Operator's Association (ESOA) and
Global VSAT Forum (GVF), the Charter was launched at the World Humanitarian Summit
(WHS) Global Consultation in Geneva in October 2015, signed on behalf of the
humanitarian community by WFP, as global lead of the ETC, and OCHA. In 2016, the
Crisis Connectivity Charter entered the operationalisation phase, with a training by
satellite companies held in Dubai and signing of the in-kind contribution agreements
with nine signatories (to be finalised in 2017).
Humanitarian Connectivity Charter
2016 saw an increased number of projects and initiatives supporting the
implementation of the Humanitarian Connectivity Charter. Through workshops as well
as pilot projects (especially the ETC2020 project in the Philippines), GSM Association
(GSMA), together with Charter signatories and its humanitarian supporters, reached out
to MNOs worldwide to enhance the cooperation, prepare for disasters and effectively
move towards the implementation of the ETC2020 strategy.
The Charter was discussed during the Mobile World Congress held in Barcelona in
February 2016, highlighting the important role that MNOs play in providing access to
information for the affected communities. Also two GSMA regional working groups and
workshops, both supported by the ETC, took place in 2016 – in Myanmar and Jordan.
In the barely-tolerable heat of the blazing Dubai sun, 12 members of World
Food Programme’s (WFP) IT emergency response capacity, the Fast IT and
Telecommunications Emergency and Support Team (FITTEST), and Emergency
Telecommunications Cluster (ETC) member, Ericsson Response stood outside
the WFP warehouses, patiently waiting for a pilot technical training to begin.
As the very first activity of the Crisis Connectivity Charter – a set of
commitments agreed upon by world-leading satellite operators and
integrators to enhance connectivity in humanitarian crises – that was signed
last October, these participants were essentially guinea pigs, albeit very
cooperative ones!
The satellite operator training was aimed at equipping ETC responders with
the skills and experience needed to deploy and maintain the variety of satellite
solutions facilitated through the Crisis Connectivity Charter, in humanitarian
emergencies.
Martin Falebrand from Ericsson Response and a veteran ETC responder, said:
“As a responder to emergencies, you often find yourself forced to use equipment
you’ve never used before. This is a challenge and of course, not optimal. So to
get the opportunity to do hands-on training in advance on systems you possibly
will deploy in a future emergency one day is really good. It enables us to provide
even better, faster services when it is critical.”
By Suzanne Fenton, Information Management Officer, WFP IT Emergency
Preparedness and Response Branch
ETC STORY SNIPPETS: ETC pilots new training for emergency responders
ETC IN 2016: YEAR IN REVIEW 28
TRAINING
In 2016, eight large-scale, inter-agency ICT training courses (both global and regional) were delivered to the humanitarian community, ranging from technical courses to
large-scale emergency simulations.
Intermediate Data Training (IDT) Training
The first IDT Iraq training, based on Let’s Net, took place in Dohuk in Iraq between
the 18 and 22 September 2016. The 5-day activity based training course allowed
participants to learn to deploy, manage and support the ETC Internet services (data
and voice) during emergency operations. IDT participants were all selected-on
merit and at the point of need from UN agencies – 12 responders from the region
from WFP, and UNHCR participated.
12 participants from 2 humanitarian organisations attended IDT in 2016.
Intro to IT Emergency Management Training
An Introduction to IT Emergency Management Training (Intro to ITEMT) course to
support the internal capacity building initiative in Sudan was delivered through
professional development of UN agencies and NGO staff. The Intro to ITEMT
course was delivered in the WFP office in Khartoum between the 16 and 18 May
2016 and used the ETC Intro to ITEMT training syllabus, which was identified as an
effective training tool to reinforce regional IT emergency management capability in
Sudan.
16 participants from 7 humanitarian organisations attended Intro to IT EMT.
Let’s Comm
Let’s Comm is a 7-day course that equips inter-agency participants with the skills
and knowledge to be able to design, implement and maintain VHF and HF radio
infrastructure to UN standards. ETC in Syria conducted two consecutive 5-day Let’s
Comm training modules which took place between the 2 to 6 October and 9 to 12
October 2016 in Damascus.
18 participants from 5 humanitarian organisations participated in Let’s Comm.
OpEx Bravo
OpEx Bravo is a seven-day large-scale inter-agency operational exercise designed
to further advance the emergency response capabilities of the global ICT
humanitarian community. The 2016 session was hosted by the German Federal
Agency for Technical Relief (THW) in Neuhausen, Germany, with the support of
exercise staff from THW, Save the Children, Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency
(MSB), Ericsson Response, Government of Luxembourg, and WFP. Participants
worked in teams to deploy ICT services and equipment under challenging
conditions and timeframes. This exercise allowed participants to gain practical
experience with the technical solutions adopted by the ETC for emergency
response.
20 participants from 11 humanitarian organisations participated in the exercise.
ETC IN 2016: YEAR IN REVIEW 29
Let’s Net
Let’s Net is an nine-day hands-on training course which teaches participants to
deploy, manage and support ETC data and voice services and solutions. The 2016
session was held in Schimpach, Luxembourg hosted by the Directorate for
Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs of the Luxembourg Ministry
for Foreign and European Affairs.
12 participants from 6 humanitarian organisations participated in Let’s Net in 2016.
TRIPLEX
The ETC was invited to contribute and participate in TRIPLEX 2016, full-scale,
civilian-led humanitarian field exercise, which was held in Lista in Norway between
23 and 30 September 2016. The exercise closely simulated a humanitarian response
during a real-life sudden onset emergency. It allowed the ETC responders to
practice the necessary standard operational procedures and technical skills
required to deliver the mandated ETC services. ETC Location Services provided a
positive contribution when deployed with the Internet connectivity. 50 people were
registered in the ETC Reporter App in a short time and it was clear that the ETC
Location Services is a valuable tool for the humanitarian community.
10 ETC representative from 4 humanitarian organisations took part in the TRIPLEX
exercise in 2016.
Let’s Comm Digital (LCD)
Let’s Comm Digital is a five-day training course which equips humanitarian ICT staff
with the skills and competencies needed to deploy Digital Mobile Radio
infrastructure. The 2016 global session was hosted by MSB in Revinge, Sweden. 11
participants from 5 humanitarian organisations participated in this session.
The ETC in South Sudan delivered two consecutive Let’s Comm Digital (LCD)
training courses in Juba in May. This formed part of the continued commitment to
providing training and capacity building opportunities to national and international
responders from UN agencies, NGOs and the governmental organisations in South
Sudan.
11 participants from 5 organisations took part in LCD 2016 in Sweden
& 25 participants from 5 organisations participated in LCD 2016 in South Sudan.
During this year’s edition of OpEx Bravo training, 20 participants from 11
organisations worked together to respond to the devastating - but thankfully
fictional - earthquake in ‘Tukastan’. Humanitarian hubs were set up with tents
and telecommunications equipment, including the inflatable emergency.lu
rapid deployment kit, Ericsson Reponses’s WIDER for Internet management
and distribution, as well as three 45-metre THW towers. Participants moved
between hubs, operating at maximum energy levels (and instant coffee), as if
lives were at stake.
With new equipment and tools being introduced to the ETC toolbox, this
year's OpEx Bravo was particularly interesting. ETC Location Services, allowing
track of staff and equipment, was deployed for the first time in a training
environment. Ericsson Response also tested a new configuration of its WIDER
system.
Of course, it is about more than just the equipment. Gilles Hoffmann,
emergency.lu Coordinator from the Government of Luxembourg, admits that
the technicians would not need to travel to Germany to train deploying VSAT
or Wi-Fi systems alone. “It’s all about partnership, teamwork and personal
relationships, for both, participants and exercise staff,” he says.
This year, participants were quick in setting up the equipment, but also
thought of additional components that have never been covered before –
included services for affected populations. While not yet included in the ETC
Services Catalogue, is very much in line with the ETC2020 strategy that is soon
to become the standard way of ETC response.
While participants’ learning experience in terms of ETC-used technologies and
soft skills are key objectives, it is the personal interactions and networking that
add significant value to such a course, as these shared experiences
create bonds between the participants
By Katarzyna Chojnacka, Communication Officer, WFP IT Emergency
Management branch
ETC STORY SNIPPETS: OpEx Bravo: It is all about teamwork
ETC IN 2016: YEAR IN REVIEW 31
Became the 24th
member of the ETC
Held twice each year, ETC Plenary Meetings provide a forum for the membership to discuss ongoing operations, key developments and initiatives within the
humanitarian ICT sector and other pertinent issues relating to the Emergency Telecommunications Cluster.
GLOBAL ETC
Global Meetings
ETC Plenary Meeting: Rome, October 2016
47 participants from 22 humanitarian and governmental organizations
attended the 2-day meeting and successfully revised the ongoing ETC2020
Roadmap and set up the new activities and priorities ETC2020 Roadmap for 2017-
18. For the first time, WFP Regional IT Officers attended the ETC Plenary Meeting to
share updates and activities from their respective regions, as well as contribute to
the development of the next ETC2020 Roadmap.
ETC Connect Day, Washington D.C., May 2016
The ETC Connect Day brought the ETC membership together with new private
sector partners to tackle the cluster’s 2020 strategy, developing pilot projects,
garnering further commitment and defining the way forward for technology in
humanitarian response. 63 participants from 48 organizations took part in this
meeting.
ETC Plenary Meeting: Washington D.C., May 2016
Gathering 30 participants from 20 ETC member organisations, the Spring 2016
session of the ETC plenary meeting focused on the ongoing operations, key
developments and initiatives within the humanitarian ICT sector. The ETC members
discussed the outcomes of the Tactical Working Groups established in 2015.
Signed standby partnership agreement
AAP Accountability to Affected Population
ACF Action Contre la Faim
C.A.R. Central African Republic
COMCEN Communications Centre
CwC Communication with Communities
DFID Department for International Development
DMR Digital Mobile Radio
ESOA EMEA Satellite Operator's Association
ETC Emergency Telecommunications Cluster
FITTEST WFP’s Fast IT and Telecommunications Emergency and Support Team
GVF Global VSAT Forum
HF High Frequency
HISP Humanitarian Internet Support Project
IASC Inter-Agency Standing Committee
ICRC International Committee of the Red Cross
ICT Information and Communications Technology
IDPs Internally Displaced Persons
IDT Intermediate Data Training
IOM International Organization for Migration
IT Information Technology
ITU International Telecommunications Union
LCD Let’s Comm Digital
MNO Mobile Network Operator
MSB Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency
NDMO National Disaster Management Office
NGO Non-Governmental Organization
OCHA UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
PHT Pacific Humanitarian Team
S4C Services for Communities
SIDA Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency
THW German Federal Agency for Technical Relief
UN United Nations
UNAMI United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq
UNDFS UN Department of Field Support
UNDP UN Development Programme
UNDSS UN Department of Safety & Security
UNFPA UN Population Fund
UNHCR United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
UNICEF UN Children's Fund
VHF Very High Frequency
WFP World Food Programme
WHS World Humanitarian Summit
WoS Whole of Syria
LIST OF ACRONYMS